Perm or alternative to perm

cazs

Hi
I currently have hair that is pretty straight naturally though I use GHDs to make it look straighter. I'm interested in trying having wavy / curly hair. However I am not good at using tongs/ wavers/ etc and it's also too time consuming to do daily so I wanted to investigate more permanent method. The first that came to mind was perm Burt thought it might be outraged nowadays. So is it still a good choices or are there other means that a salon would offer. I'd love to get the wavy curls like Kate Middleton.

devildog

There is a relatively new product out on the market for hairdressers called FORM3D. It is a sculpting product(smells like a perm when applied, but it isn't a perm) The product is applied to soften the hair, left for five minutes, rinsed and then a 'fix' is put on and the hairdresser blow dries/styles your hair. can't wash your hair for 48 hrs afterwards! The hair then 'remembers' how it is supposed to go and it lasts for 4/6 weeks. It doesn't mean that you don't have to style it because you do but it is so much easier and you need very little effort to do it. I had it done 4 weeks ago and have been really impressed by it and am booked in to have it done again.

System

If you wanted to get a perm done I'd advise you seek out an older, experienced hairdresser. The younger hairdressers these days don't have much experience of perming hair, presumably because the fashion for the past few years has been for straightened hair rather than curly.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I have really fine straight hair. I use heatless curls methods such as tying hair up in a bun when wet. Loads of youtube tutorials showing different methods.

I would't recommend a perm as it's not as permanent as people think & it's very damaging to the hair.

Paulaviki

The problem is a perm will never give you the same look at naturally curly/wavy hair. And you will only ever achieve a look like Kate Middleton by spending time styling your hair.

j.e.j.

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

I would't recommend a perm as it's not as permanent as people think & it's very damaging to the hair.

The hair that's been permed will stay permed. Perming alters the structure of the hair and enables the hair to stay curly (or straight, - it's the same stuff they use for relaxing afro-caribbean hair).

Obviously the new growth of hair will be straight, and you might end up with straight roots and curly ends, like they used to back in the 80s :rotfl:

the_devil_made_me_do_it

j.e.j in my experience any curl a perm creates pretty much just falls out in a very short space of time. I've had my hair permed a couple of times over the years & each time it's been an absolute waste of money. It hasn't even lasted after the first wash. I've seen the same thing happen when friends have got a perm. Don't actually know anyone whose hair has stayed curly after a perm, your lucky if it stays wavy.

Armchair23

I had two or three perms , remember the eighties ?

I've got very straight fine hair but quite a lot of it. I had the perms done at well known London salons but it pretty much dropped out immediately. Because of where I was working at the time I got good discounts at great salons but was still really disappointed.

I'm sure techniques have come on but the very best results are short lived or hard to maintain.

You can touch up your roots if it's colour, I don't know what you can do with a perm.

Big rollers, personal hairdressser and getting up at the crack of dawn is the answer.

Is it practical - absolutely not !

j.e.j.

Ooh I don't know then. If the perm didn't 'take' maybe the neutraliser wasn't left on for long enough or something like that. My lovely 80s perms stayed in until they grew out.. unfortunately :rotfl:

paulineb_2

My perms also stayed until they grew out, I had a spiral perm and the curls that grew from the top as my hair grew relaxed a bit and lasted for a good couple of years. I also have quite fine hair but a lot of it, I do think some people with fine hair might struggle to hold a perm, but somehow my hair took perms and it also takes colour really well

I have naturally wavy hair anyway so Ive not had a perm in about 22 years or so.

Armchair23

It's a combination of so many things. Hair, product and hairdresser so many variables.

I tried to go bright pink with Crazy Colour back in my wild days (ha)
followed all the instructions that washed right out too.

I've tried to rebel and be glamorous it just hasn't worked. I'm doomed to have hair as flat as a pancake and now I'm heading for 60 I just don't care !